orpheum

There is the bimonthly organ concert at the State Kilburn commencing at 2.30pm on Sunday 1st July.Admission £5 for non members.The organ is the original Wurlitzer.If you have never been inside this building before,now on Bingo,the interior is worth the visit alone.The chandelier in the foyer is supposed to be a replica of that in the ballroom in Buck Palace.It was the largest cinema in the UK(there is a larger one in Scotland)It is in Kilburn High Road just down the road from the famous railway bridges which were the site of "The Bijou"in "The Smallest Show on Earth".

penfold

Did this use to be a rock venue about ten years ago ??....it looked more like an old music hall than a cinema; I saw a fundraiser for War Child there....if it is that building, I'm glad it has been restored...and if it is a different building, I'm still glad of course....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

orpheum

I have been going to this building for many years and it has never in my memory been a rock venue.I think that you may be confusing this with the Astoria Finsbury Park.This was at one time known as The Rainbow.However the marvellous interior decoration of this fantastic atmosphericv theatre was painted black.It has now been lovingly restored to its former glory by the Church that occupies it.The State has been on bingo for many years and i keep my fingers crossed that the onset of the smoking ban does not put its continued use in question.Anyway to anyone who has not seen this building go and see it now.

penfold

It was definitely Kilburn High Road...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

orpheum

Further enquiries show that after The Grange closed in 1975 it became a nightclub,So perhaps you went clubbing there.The State was originally cine-variety and had a big stage.Up till and even slightly after its closure it was staging shows so it maybe that it was used as a rock venue on an occasional basis.The only other venue in the area was the Classic which was near the bridges up the road.This was too small to host a rock concert and has alas been replaced by a petrol station.I spent many a happy afternoon in the Clasic.Oh that we had a rep circuit like that nowdays.

penfold

it was a one-off gig, for charity, so I think The State is the place....big stage (there were a lot of musicians - just about anyone who had played in Steeleye or the Albions were there)...it would be 1995/1996. The venue had a big, sweeping balcony....as The Albions had done the music for the NT production of the Mysteries in the 70's, so we had the edited highlights; on a coffee table one end of the balcony we had Brian Glover being God, at the other end, another coffee table with Don Warrington as Gabriel....Brenda Blethyn, Dave Hill playing Mary and Joseph just in front of the stage with John Tams and The Albions powering away on stage. You had to be there.....I would have converted on the spot if there had been a preacher as well.....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

orpheum

I am not sure when it was converted to Bingo.I do know that i attended the 60th anniversary concert on1st December 1997 by which time the building was on bingo and the stage had been removed.I would have thought that this was on bingo by around 1992 but will check in Allen Eyeles book on Gaumont British cinemas

dyranian

The Classic was next to a petrol station, after the cinema was demolished the site became a Deep Pan Pizza

orpheum

Yes you are right about the Classic,According to Allan Eyeles book published in Jan 1996 as of 1995 the State was on bingo.So if Penfold attended a rock concert there it had to be earlier than 1995/6

dylan

As well as the State and the Classic there were two other cinemas in the area. I think one was the Essoldo - anyone know for sure?

D.

dyranian

There was the State and the Grange, both Rank cinemas, the Essoldo (formerly the Kilburn Empire and later the Broadway) and the Classic (formerly the Envoy). Today there is the Tricycle

penfold

Kilburn Empire rings a distant bell........does it have a long, sweeping balcony??

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

orpheum

Yes there were 2 more cinemas in the area.The first being the Essoldo iwas replaced by a hotel.The second was the Empire.This is now an Islamic Cultural Centre.I have been in there with a CTA trip and can confirm that the decor is still in place and the building well maintained.I beklieve it is Grade 11 listed.

dyranian

The building which is now an Islamic Centre was originally the Maida Vale Picture Palace from 1913 to 1940, later the Carlton Rooms then Mecca Bingo till 1996.
The Kilburn Empire opened in 1906 originally as a music hall, later showing films. From 1949 to 1971 it was the Essoldo, then the Classic Maida Vale, the Broadway then after a few other uses was demolished 1n 1994 to make way for a hotel.
Going back further there was the Kilburn Electric Palace/Cosy Corner Cinema 1910-1917 and the Biograph 1910-1919.
All info from "KIlburn and West Hampsted Past"

orpheum

No one has mentioned the only open cinema The Tricycle.This is one of the most attractive and comfortable cinemas to have opened in recent years.A cinema in which you can enjoying watching instead of being stuck in a black box